India improves breastfeeding policy score in global assessment, but key gaps remain

By A Representative

India has shown significant progress in its national policy and programme environment supporting breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding (IYCF), according to the 6th World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) assessment report released by the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI).

The report, Spotlight on Breastfeeding & Infant and Young Child Feeding in India, marks India’s WBTi score rising from 45 in 2018 to 62 in 2025 out of a possible 100. Correspondingly, India’s global rank has improved sharply, moving up from 79th to 41st place. In WBTi’s colour-coded system, India has moved from the ‘Yellow’ to ‘Blue’ category—indicating steady policy and programme progress.

The report attributes these gains to stronger legal frameworks such as the IMS Act and Maternity Benefits Act, implementation of the MAA programme to promote breastfeeding in hospitals, better community outreach, and improved preparedness for breastfeeding support during emergencies and in HIV contexts.

Despite this improvement, the report warns of persistent gaps in service delivery, enforcement, and inclusivity. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), only 41% of newborns are breastfed within the first hour of birth, 63% of infants are exclusively breastfed, 45% receive timely complementary feeding, and just 11% meet the minimum acceptable diet.

Particularly concerning is the performance of the MAA programme, which remains in the ‘Red’ category under Indicator 2. The report calls for urgent improvements in district-level financial support, staff training in hospitals, technical assistance to states, and monitoring systems.

The report stresses the need to bring private healthcare providers into the fold, as they account for a significant share of childbirth services. Experts argue that improved coordination and funding, along with rigorous enforcement of the IMS Act, are essential to counter ongoing commercial marketing of baby foods.

“India’s progress is commendable and encouraging,” said Dr. Arun Gupta, lead author of the report and founder of BPNI. “To reach the top 10 in global rankings, India must strengthen coordination, increase funding, and ensure stricter enforcement of protections against commercial influence.”

The report also recommends reviving the National Steering Committee on Breastfeeding and IYCF and developing a four-year national action plan with dedicated funding. Dr. Nupur Bidla, the new Central Coordinator of BPNI, noted that comprehensive action—including emergency preparedness—should be included in such a plan.

Community pediatrician Dr. Vandana Prasad from the Public Health Resource Society emphasized the need for institutionalised capacity building and called for amending the Maternity Benefit Act 2017 to extend protections to women in the informal sector.

Developed using globally recognised WBTi tools, the report incorporates inputs from experts across leading public health institutions including Doctors For You, PHRS, NIHFW, PAN Society, UNICEF India, and others.

The report has been released as India marks World Breastfeeding Week 2025, themed “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems.”

Comments

Academics urge Azim Premji University to drop FIR against Student Reading Circle

By A Representative A group of academics and civil society members has issued an open letter to the leadership of Azim Premji University expressing concern over the filing of a police complaint that led to an FIR against a student-run reading circle following a recent incident of violence on campus. The signatories state that they hold the university in high regard for its commitment to constitutional values, critical inquiry and ethical public engagement, and argue that it is precisely because of this reputation that the present development is troubling.

'Policy long overdue': Coalition of 29 experts tells JP Nadda to act on SC warning label order

By A Representative In a significant development for public health, the Supreme Court of India has directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to seriously consider implementing mandatory front-of-pack warning labels on pre-packaged food products. The order, passed by a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan on February 10, 2026, comes as the Court expressed dissatisfaction with the regulatory body's progress on the issue.

When tourism meets tribal law: The Vanajangi dispute in Andhra Pradesh

By Palla Trinadha Rao A writ petition presently before the High Court of Andhra Pradesh has brought into focus an increasingly important question in the governance of tribal regions: can eco-tourism projects in Scheduled Areas be implemented without the consent of the Gram Sabha? The case concerns the establishment of a Community Based Eco-Tourism centre at Vanajangi village in Paderu Mandal of Alluri Sitarama Raju District, a region located within the Scheduled Areas of Andhra Pradesh.

UAPA action against Telangana activist: Criminalising legitimate democratic activity?

By A Representative The National Investigation Agency's Hyderabad branch has issued notices to more than ten individuals in Telangana in connection with FIR No. RC-04/2025. Those served include activists, former student leaders, civil rights advocates, poets, writers, retired schoolteachers, and local leaders associated with the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Indian National Congress.

Vaccination vs screening: Policy questions raised on cervical cancer strategy

By A Representative A public policy expert has written to Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda raising a series of concerns regarding the national Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign launched on February 28 for 14-year-old girls.

The new anti-national certificate: If Arundhati Roy is the benchmark, count me in

By Dr. Mansee Bal Bhargava* Dear MANIT Alumni Network Committee, “Are you anti-national?” I encountered this fascinating—some may say intimidating—question from an elderly woman I barely know, an alumna of Maulana Azad College of Technology (MACT, now Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology - MANIT), Bhopal, and apparently one of the founders of the MACT (now MANIT) Alumni Network. The authority with which she posed the question was striking. “How much anti-national are you? What have you done for the Alumni Network Committee to identify you as anti-national?” When I asked what “anti-national” meant to her and who was busy certifying me as such, the response came in counter-questions.

The ultimate all-time ODI XI: A personal selection of icons across eras

By Harsh Thakor* This is my all-time best XI chosen for ODI (One Day International) cricket: 1. Adam Gilchrist (W) – The absolute master blaster who could create the impact of exploding gunpowder with his electrifying strokeplay. No batsman was more intimidating in his era. Often his knocks decided the fate of games as though the result were premeditated. He escalated batting strike rates to surreal realms.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Rajiv Shah Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Minority concerns mount: RTI reveals govt funded Delhi religious meet in December

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* Indian Muslims have expressed deep concern over what they describe as rising hate speech and hostility against their community under the BJP-led government in India. A recent flashpoint was the event organised by Sanatan Sanstha titled “Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsav” in New Delhi on 13–14 December 2025.

Search This Blog